I won’t pretend to be a perfect traveller with perfect tips, but here it is, in all honesty, my 5 experiences ‘coup de coeur’ in Bali! You know, the ones I recall with satisfaction, amazement and a bloody smile on my silly face.

The days are exhausting, with two dives a day, some videos to watch in between, and on evenings I’m learning with my diver manual at the nearby restaurant. I learn again how to live alone, for I’m learning alone, eating alone, strolling alone. My only social interactions are with my diving instructor, A., who’s not very talkative when he’s not teaching me anything.

While in Ubud, it’s impossible to miss out the Monkey Forest. Okay, let’s say I’m not a big fan of monkeys, I don’t know why but they freak me out. But since it’s a must-do experience in Ubud, well, let’s go. I quickly understand why. The forest is a bloody enchanted forest! Giant trees, creepers falling from the sky, temples and statues… It’s hard not to fall in love with the place.

Clémentine and I just lie down on the grass, finally let alone, apart from the crowds, enjoying this quite amazing view over the lake. Clouds are playing hide and seek with the mountains, and I’m secretly wishing to stay here for a while, getting a sweet nap close to my dear friend.

But then I start to become disillusioned. As soon as a dolphin appears somewhere, over the 40 jukung (yes, there are as many as 40 jukung in the sea at that moment!) start to rush towards the mammals. It’s a race, almost a chase.

A former bookseller, who couldn’t get enough of pictures and paper dreams. Retrained as a Travel Agent, who couldn’t get enough of new travel inspirations. Retrained as a novice adventurer. Novice Adventurer since 2015 in New Zealand, Japan, Bali, Singapore and Taiwan. I caught the travel bug and I won’t stop anytime soon.